"Never forget that after politics you're still a father, you're still a husband, you're still a wife, a partner and you can't forget those relationships."

However, While Mark Mitchell agrees, he believes this was an exceptional circumstance.

"Because it was signalled so far out and because it was pretty unprecedented, 30 years since we have had strike action like this, very, very serious matter, it probably would have been prudent that he was in the country."